DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Partial List of Successful and Popular Plays. Large Cataiosue Free. 
Price iSc each. Postpaid; Unless Different Price is Given 



DRAMAS, COMEDIES, 
ENTERTAINMENTS, Etc. 

M. F. 

Aaron Boggs, Freshman, 3 

acts, 2J4 hrs (25c) 8 8 

After the Game, 2 acts, 1J4 

hrs, ...:. (25c) 1 9 

AH a Mistake, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

<25c) 4 4 

American Hustler, 4 acts, 2J^ 

hrs (25c) 7 4 

Arabian Nights, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 4 5 
As a Woman Thinketh, 3 acts, 

2y2 hrs (25c) 9 7 

At the End of the Rainbow, 3 

acts, 214 hrs (2Sc) 6 14 

Bank Cashier, 4 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 8 4 

Black Heifer, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 9 3 

Brookdale Farm, 4 acts, 2^ 

hrs (25c) 7 3 

Brother Josiah, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Burns Rebellion, 1 hr (25c) 8 5 

Busy Liar, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

College Town, 3 acts, 2J4 

hrs. , , . (25c) 9 8 

Corner Drug Store, 1 hr. 

(25c) 17 14 

JDanger Signal, 2 acts, 2 hrs. . 7 4 
Daughter of the Desert, 4 

acts, 2^ hrs (25c) 6 4 

Down in Dixie, 4 acts, 2^/4 

, hrs (2Sc) 8 4 

Dream That Came True, 3 

acts, 2]4 hrs (25c) 6 13 

Editor-in-l.hief, 1 hr (25c) 10 

Enchanted Wood, 1^ h.(35c).Optnl. 
Everyyouth, 3 acts, 1 ^ hrs. 

(25c) 7 6 

Face at the Window, 3 acts, 2 

hrs. ...(25c) 4 4 

Fascinators, 40 min (25c) 13 

Fun on the Podunk Limited, 

,^ 11/^ hrs (25c) 9 14 

Heiress of Hoetown, 3 acts, 2 

hrs. (25c) 8 4 

High School Freshman, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 12 

Honor of a Cowboy, 4 acts, 2^/^ 

hrs (25c) 13 4 

Indian Days, 1 hr (50c) 5 2 

In Plum Valley, 4 acts, 2]^ 

hrs (25c) 6 4 

Iron Hand, 4 acts, 2 hrs. . (25c) 5 4 
Jayville Junction, 1% hrs. (25c) 14 17 
Kingdom of Heart's Content, 3 

acts, 2% hrs (25c) 6 12 

Lexington, 4 acts, 2li h..(25c) 9 4 



M. F. 

Light Brigade, 40 min (25c) 10 

Little Buckshot, 3 acts, 2% hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Lodge of Kye Tyes, 1 hr.(25c)13 
Lonelyville Sociel (I!lub, 3 acts, 

IJ^ hrs (25c) 10 

Man from Borneo, 3 acts, 2 

hrs. (25c) 5 2 

Man from Nevada, 4 acts, 2i>^ 

hrs (25c) 9 5 

Mirandy's Minstrels (25c) Optnl. 

New Woman, 3 acts, 1 hr.... 3 6 
Old Maid's Club, 1^4 hrs. (25c) 2 16 
Old Oaken Bucket, 4 acts, 2 

hrs (250) 8 6 

Old School at Hick'ry Holler, 

114 hrs (25c) 12 9 

On the Little Big Horn, 4 acts, 

21^ hrs (25c) 10 4 

Out in the Streets, 3 acts, 1 hr. 6 4 
Prairie Rose, 4 acts, 2j4 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Rustic Romeo, 2 acts, 2 }4 

hrs (25c) 10 12 

School Ma'am, 4 acts, 1^ hrs. 6 5 
Scrap of Paper, 3 acts, 2 hrs.. 6 6 
Soldier of Fortune, 5 acts, 2i/^ h. 8 3 
Southern Cinderella, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 7 

Third Degree, 40 .min. .. . (25c) 12 
Those Dreadful Twins, 3 acts, 

2 hrs. , ,...(25c) 6 4 

Tony, The Convict, 5 acts, 2^ 

hrs (25c) 7 4 

Topp's Twins, 4 acts, 2 h.(25c) 6 4 
Town Marshal,- 4 acts, 2^ 

hrs (25c) 6 3 

Trip to Storyland, 1^ hrs.(25c)17 ?3 
Uncle Josh, 4 acts, 2^4 hrs. (25c) 8 3 
Under Blue Skies, 4 acts, 2 

lirs. . (25c) 7 10 

Under the Laurels, 5 acts, 2 hrs. 6 4 
When the Circus Came to 

Town; 3 acts, 2^ hrs. (25c) S 3 
Women Who Did, 1 hr. . . (25c) 17 
Yankee Detective, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 8 3 

FARCES, COMEDIETAS, Etc. 

April Fools, 30 min 3 

Assessor, The, 10 min...... 7 3 2 

Baby Show at Pineville, 20 min. 19 

Bad Job, 30 min 3 2 

Betsy Baker, 45 min 2 2 

Billy's Chorus (jirl, 25 min ... 2 3 

Billy's Mishap, 20 min 2 3 

Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min.-. 5 

Borrowing Trouble, 20 min.... 3 5 

Box and Cox, 35 min 2 1 

Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 
Convention of Papas, 25 min.. 7 

Country Justice, 15 min 8 

Cow that "Kicked Chicago, 20 m. 3 2 



T.S.DENISON&COMPANY,Publishers,154W.RandolphSt..Chicago 



THEIR FIRST QUARREL 



A COMEDY 



BY 



CHARLES NEVERS HOLMES 




• CHICAGO 
T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 
Publishers 



THEIR FIRST QUARREL 



Mr. John Browne A Husband 

Mrs. John Browne His Wife 



Place — Anyzvliere. 



Time — Breakfast. 



Time of Playing — About Fifteen Minutes. 



COSTUMES. 

Mr. Browne — Breakfast attire. 

Mrs. Browne — Morning gown, hat, gloves. 



PROPERTIES. 
All listed in description of stage setting. 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 

R. means right of stage ; C. center ; R. C, right center ; 
L., left; R.D., right door; L.D., left door, etc.; i E., first 
entrance ; U. E., upper entrance, etc. ; D. F., door in flat, or 
scene running across the back of the stage ; i G., first-groove, 
etc. The actor is supposed to be facing the audience. 



copyright, 1916, BY EBEN H. NORRIS. 

2 ©-'-0 43133 
FFR 25 1916 



THEIR FIRST QUARREL 



Scene: Dming-roorn of the Brownes, cosily furnished 
in dark; dining table in center, two chairs at opposite ends, 
table set zvith plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, coffee 
pot and cups at right end, with sugar and cream, tivo eggs 
and egg cup at left end, rolls, etc.; no zvafer in glasses, a 
carafe of zvater at right end; no butter; sideboard zvith salt 
cellar and pepper box, dishes, napkins in drazver, in right 
corner; rug under table; modern hanging lamp over it; 
doors at R. and L.; zvindozv at back beside sideboard ; tele- 
phone on small table in left corner; Mr. Browne seated in 
breakfast attire in chair on left end of table ; Mrs. Browne 
on right, hazing reddish hair ; as the curtain rises she is 
pouring coffee, very animated and happy, Mr. Browne in 
same state of mind; a clock in hall behind door at right 
rings hour of eight; zvhile clock is striking, Mrs. Browne 
leaves her seat, goes to sideboard and returns zvith coffee 
spoons. 

Mrs. B. {pouring coffee). Will you have two or three 
lumps, dearest? 

Mr. B. (smilingly). Three lumps, darling. 

Mrs. B. (puts in three lumps, then adds another). Well, 
I'll put in four — 

Mr. B. (tenderly). If you hadn't put in any, it would 
have been sweet enough, dearest. 

Mrs. B. Will you have some cream, lovey? 

Mr. B. (more tenderly). Yes, my darling. 

Mrs. B. (carrying coffee to him, kissing him). Oh, isn't 
it beautiful to love and — be loved ! 

Mr. B. (gazing affectionately up at her). And some peo- 
ple sa}^ that marriage is a failure. 

Mrs. B. (softly). They're just envious. (She returns 
to her seat.) 

Mr. B. Do you think it possible we could ever quarrel? 

Mrs. B. (quickly). Why, lovey, what an awful idea! 

3 



4 THEIR FIRST QUARREL. 

Mr. B. Still they do say— 

Mrs. B. {positively). Well, of course some folks might 
quarrel — some that are not really in love — but we — never! 

Mr. B. {beginning to open his eggs). No; it would not 
be possible — whew, this egg is hot! — for us to quarrel. 
{He drops the egg on the, tablecloth.) There, see, dear, 
what a mess I have made. 

Mrs. B. {rather quickly). It's a brand new tablecloth, 
too. No matter, darling; it can't be helped. No, I can't 
even imagine our quarreling — can you, sweetheart? 

Mr. B. {carefully opening the other egg). Impossible, 
my dearest one ! 

Mrs. B. {suddenly) . Oh, if I haven't forgotten the salt. 

Mr. B. {gently). And my napkin, dear. 

Mrs. B. {rising hastily from seat, going to sideboard) . 
One thing at a time, darling, please. {Returning with the 
salt and napkin, zvhich she places near him, kissing him 
again.) Oh, isn't it beau-tiful to love and — be loved! 

Mr. B. {tenderly). It certainly is, my darling. But 
where is the pepper? 

Mrs. B. {rather quickly). If you will give me a chance 
I'll get you the pepper, dear. {She hustles back to side- 
board and brings him the pepper. Returns to her scat.) 

Mr. B. {energetically pounding on the top of, the salt 
cellar). Confound! — excuse me, darling, but this salt cellar 
is "n.g." 

Mrs. B. {quietly). You should not be so impatient, John. 

Mr. B. (dropping the salt cellar and using the pepper 
box). Well! this is out of order, too. 

Mrs. B. {still more quietly). You needn't be so peevish 
about it, John. 

Mr. B. {removing the cover from the pepper box). Just 
as I thought — no pepper in it! 

Mrs, B. {quietly). You shouldn't be so easity disturbed 
over trifles. I'm sure I never am. 

Mr. B. {removing the cover from the salt cellar). Just 
as I thought — there's no salt in this salt cellar! 

Mrs. B. {ivith some dignity). I don't see where I'm to 



THHTR FIRST QUARREL. 5 

blaiiie. You promised to bring both salt and pepper when 
you came home last night and you forgot all about them. 

Mr. B. (calmly). But I didn't forget to put butter on 
the breakfast table this morning, my dear. 

Mrs. B. (ivith more dignity). As I remember, you also 
promised to bring home some butter, John. I don't see 
why you are so forgetful. Mrs. Smith's husband never for- 
gets when she tells him to bring something home. 

Mr. B. {with some positiz'eness). I do not recollect, 
Edith, that you asked me to bring any butter. 

Mrs. B. (somezvhat sharply). I certainly did! And I 
repeated it, too, just as you were leaving the house. 

Mr. B. (calmly). Well, if you say so, I shall not dispute 
your word, although, of course, you may be mistaken. 

Mrs. B. (still more sharply). I am not mistaken, Mr. 
Browne. You know that you are in the wrong and that I 
am in the right, and you won't admit it. (Telephone rings 
and Mr. Browne anszuers it). 

Mr. B. (crossly). What's that? Is Mrs. Smith in? Say, 
you've got the wrong number! (He abruptly hangs tip the 
receiver.) Don't see why people can't use their eyes when 
they look up a number! (He picks up his glass and finds 
it contains no zvater. Politely.) If it is not too much 
trouble, I should like some water. I certainly did not for- 
get to bring home water! 

Mrs. B. (rising zvitli carafe, coming around to him and 
filling his glass). Now, John, you are trying to make a 
quarrel. You know I am not at all quick tempered ; but, 
of course, there are limits even to my patience. 

Mr. B. (relentingly). Well, dear, perhaps I have been 
a little hasty ; but it would be impossible for us to quarrel — 
quite impossible ! 

Mrs. B. (softly). No, we could never really quarrel — 
never! 

Mr. B. (positively). It is unthinkable, my love. (He 
glances at his zvatch.) Well, it's time for me to go. If I 
don't catch, the next train I shall miss a very important 
engagement. (Reaches for the glass to drink, somchozv he 
overturns it upon the table.) 



6 THEIR FIRST QUARREL. 

Mrs. B. (a little sharply). Dear, that's very stupid of 
you! Between that <^gg and the water what a mess you 
have made ! 

Mr. B. (excHsingly) . But, darhng, you put the glass on 
the wrong side — 

Mrs. B. (quickly). If you had not been so — clumsy it 
wouldn't have happened. 

Mr. B. (nerz'ously grasping the seat of the chair tozvard 
tJie curtain). You could as easily have placed it on the 
right side as on the wrong side, my love. 

Mrs. B. (more quickly). If you hadn't been so careless 
it would not have tipped over. Mrs. Smith says her hus- 
band never spills anything upon the table. 

Mr. B. (less nervovisly, still grasping the seat of the 
chair). Well, my sister never — 

Mrs. B. (sharply). I don't care to hear about what your 
sister does, Mr. Browne. 

Mr. B. (with a look of great disgust, suddenly zmthdrazv- 
ing his hand from under the seat of his chair). There's 
some gum stuck under this chair. You know I don't like 
you to chew gum, ancj here is some under my chair. 

Mrs. B. (still more sharply). I shall chew what I choose, 
Mr. Browne! I want you to understand that! And let me 
tell you your sister put that gum there when she was calling 
yesterday. 

Mr. B. (a little azved, protestingly). Now, Edith, that is 
not so. Jane rarely ever chev/s gum and certainly she never 
deposits it under chairs — she had a better bringing up than 
that. 

Mrs. B. (z'cry sharply). Do you mean that you do not 
believe what I tell you? 

Mr. B. (nervously). No, my dear — but Jane never put 
it there. 

Mrs. B. {z'erv sharply). She did, too! She wa-s chew- 
ing gum all the afternoon. I thought she would stay for- 
ever. 

Mr. B. (less nervously). And weren't you chewing gum, 
also? 



THEIR FIRST QUARRRT.. 7 

Mrs. B. {suddenly calm). I was — some that she p^ave me. 

Mr. B. (quietly). But because she was, as you say, 
chewing ^um' somewhere in the house is no proof that she 
placed that gum under this particular chair. 

Mrs. B. ipositk'ely). We were in this very room and 
she sat in that very chair. 

Mr. B. (doubtfully). Are you sure, dear. 

Mrs. B. (rising from her seat slozvly). How dare you 
doubt my word ! 

Mr. B. (producing a cigar, rising from his seat, going to 
sideboard for match). I don't — only — (he lights match). 

Mrs. B. (very quietly). Well? 

Mr. B. (lighting the cigar). You — might — be — mistaken. 

Mrs. B. {-c'cry positively). I am not mistaken. She sat 
in that chair! 

Mr. B. (resignedly). Yes, I suppose so. (Briskly, look- 
ing at his watch.) Gracious! Only three minutes to catch 
the local. (Starts energetically toward the door on right.) 

Mrs. B. (firmly standing betzveen Mr. Browne and the 
door). Before you go, Mr. Browne, I want you to answer 
this — do you or do you not doubt my word that your sister 
sat in that chair? 

Mr. B. (restlessly). Yes, I guess she did. 

Mrs. B. (z'ery sharply). Guess! There's no guess about 
it! And now, do you or do you not doubt my word that I 
didn't put that gum under the chair? 

Mr. B. (more restlessly). I didn't say that you put it 
there. What I did say was that I found some gum' under 
the chair and I didn't like you to chew gum. 

Mrs. B. (obstinately). Well, that amounts to the same 
thing. You don't answer me — do you or don't you say that 
I placed the gum there? 

Mr. B. (evasively). But some one put it there. 

Mrs. B. (firmly). That isn't what I asked — answer nie! 

Mr. B. (just as firmly). I !^hall not. (Looking at his 
zvatch.) Jiminy ! Only two minutes to catch that train. ( JIc 
starts as though he zvere going to rush from room.) 

Mrs. B. (still standing betzveen Mr. Browne and the 
door). You shall! Did or did T not put the gum there? 



THETR FIRST QUARREL. 

Mr. B. (quietly). Edith, you are losing your temper. 

Mrs. B. (angrily). I'm not! I never was calmer in all 
my life. 

Mr. B. (more quietly). You're getting into a tantrum. 

Mrs. B. (more angrily). I am not! Don't you say that 
again ! 

Mr. B. (z'ery firmly). Yes, you are — a tantrum — a com- 
mon, vulgar tantrum. My sister — 

Mrs. B. (furiously). Don't you mention that disagree- 
able old hen to me ! 

Mr. B. (sternly). Edith, I forbid you to speak of my 
sister in that way. 

Mrs. B. (just as furiously). I'll say just what I please! 

Mr. B. (very firmly and sternly). You will not! Re- 
member you are my wife and that this is my house. 

Mrs, B. (utterly beside herself). You — brute! 

Mr. B. (quietly). And you know that you promised to 
obey me. (Mrs. B. goes into violent hysterics . She gives a 
scream, grabs the zvater carafe and dashes it to floor im 
full viezv of audience.) 

Mrs. B. (wildly). You — human fiend! I'm done with 
you. I'm going home to mother! (She rushes past Mr. 
Browne, upsetting the chair on L. and exits furiously by 
door on L. Mr. Browne stands a moment as though 
stunned. Then he walks slozvly tozvard the door on left. 
Mechanically he picks up the fallen chair, then he turns it 
oz'er to take a look at the gum zvhich. is stuck under the 
seat. Suddenly he starts, gasps for breath and rubs his 
fingers over the seafs bottom. Then he gasps again.) 

Mr. B, (putting the chair dozvn and sitting dozvii zveakly 
in it). Great Scott ! 

Mrs. B. enters from door on L.; hat put on hastily, one 
gloz'e on hand, a suitcase in other Jiand. 

Mrs. B. (tragically). Mr. Browne, I shall now leave 
your bed and board — forever. Farewell. (She starts 
tozvard door at R.) 

Mr. B. (frantically leaping to his feet and getting betzveen 
her and the door on R.). Now, Edith, darling — 



THEIR FIRST QUARREL. 9 

Mrs. B. (coldly). It i.s too late — stand out of my way, 
sir. 

Mr. B. (beseechingly) . Dearest, won't you forgive me? 
I have made an awful mistake. 

Mrs. B. (putting doum her suitcase). Yes, indeed, a ter- 
rible mistake. 

Mr. B. (suddenly going to the left and rctuniing zvitJi 
tlic chair from zvhich he had just arisen). Darling, see here. 
(He turns the chair upside down and points to the bot- 
tom of its seat.) See the dreadful mistake I made. There 
is no gum there at all! It is only a tiny piece of wood glued 
on under the seat. 

Mrs. B. (after examining the chair's seat, scornfully) . 
You're a — ninny, John Browne ! 

Mr. B. (humbly). Yes, dear. 

Mrs. B. (tearfully, sitting doivn at the table in chair on 
right). How could you say the cruel things to me that you 
did? 

Mr. B. (still more humbly). I shall never- forgiA^e my- 
self, darling. (He takes the chair back to the other end 
of the table and sits down.) 

Mrs. B. (with hat still on, drazving off her one gloz'c, 
beginning to pour out a cup of coffee). You surely do 
need a guardian. Will you have two or three lumps, John? 

Mr. B. (softly). Three lumps, darling. 

Mrs. B. (putting in three Uimps, adding another). Well, 
ril put in four. 

Mr. B. (tenderly). If you hadn't put in any it would 
have been sweet enough, dearest. 

Mrs. B. (softly). A\^ill you have some oream, dearie? 

Mr. B. (more tenderly). Yes, my darling. 

Mrs. B. (carrying coffee to him. kissing him). Oh, isn't 
it beautiful to love and — be loved ! 

Mr. B. (gazing affectionately up at her). And some 
people say that marriage is a failure. 

Mrs. B. (kissing him again). They are just envious. 

Curtain. 



The Deacon Entandled 

By HARRY OSBORNE. 

Price, 25 Cents 

Comedy in 3 acts; 6 males, 4 females. Time, 2 hours. Scene: 
1 interior. Characters: Deacon Penrose, a member in good stand- 
ing-. Calvin, liis nepliew. Rev. Sopher, a supporter of foreign mis- 
sions Harry Baxter, a sporting writer. Rafferty, a policeman. 
A Plain Clothes Man. Mrs. Penrose. Ruth, her daughter. 
Georgie, Rev. Soplier's daughter. Katy, a maid. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — In which the Deacon finds himself in a tight corner. 
Dr. Sopher, who can coax money out of a wooden Indian. A thou- 
sand dollars for the new pipe organ. Cal arrives. A clean-up- 
clouter instead of a ministerial prospect. "Did I forget my necktie 
and button my collar in the back?" The Deacon spends a night 
out. "We won't go home until morning." 

Act II. — The raid on the gambling joint. "Why didn't you 
jump when I told you." On bail. "A thousand dollars to the Doc 
or you lose your job as Deacon; a thousand to the judge or six 
months." A sporting chance. Ready for the game. A donation 
to Foreign Missions and a double barreled courtship. The elope- 
ment. The arrest. "Come on Cal, I'll see you through." 

Act III. — The big game. Tied in the Tenth. Cal goes to the 
box. A Pinch Hitter. "Over the scoreboard." On the Deacon's 
trail — the Horse pistol — pay the fine or go to jail. A hair line 
finish. "Hold on, Copper." "Here's your thousand and here's 
your girl. Look happy and have your picture taken." A new 
son-in-law. "Bother Boarding School." The Deacon smiles. 

A Trial of Hearts 

By LINDSEY BARBEE. 

Price, 25 Cents 

College comedy in 4 acts; 6 males, 18 females. Time, 2^4 hours. 
Scenes: 3 interiors, 1 exterior. Characters: Dudley Van Antwerp, 
a wealthy college man. Philip, his best friend. Roger, Teddy, 
Jack and Jerry, fraternity men. Mrs. Van Antwerp, of great im- 
portance. Honor, Dudley's wife. Fourteen lively sorority girls. A 
chaperone and a maid. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — Gretchen and Jerry play Romeo and Juliet. Ted pleads 
the cause of Kappa Psi. Jack argues for Delta Chi. Dudley intro- 
duces Honor to his mother. Virginia learns of Dudley's marriage. 
"I want to go home — oh. I want to go- home!" 

Act II. — The football enthusiasts bring news of Barbara. 
Gretchen and .Terry study Latin and argue fraternity. Honor finds 
it all a little strange. Dudley tells Virginia his love story. "Oh, 
Dudley, you hurt me!" "There's nothing left for me but to go away!" 

Act III. — "I wonder if people ever get too busy to care!" 
Mrs. Van Antwerp opens fire and Honor stands her ground. "I 
mean to stay!" "I wish I liad no heart — it aches so!" "Dear 
little girl, it is good-bye." Honor hears Dudley declare his love 
for Virginia. "Oh, Dad -Dad — your little girl is coming home!" 

Act IV. — Gretchen and Jerry "grow up." The Seniors toast 
the past, the present and the future. Mrs. Van Antwerp reproaches 
herself. "Here comes the bride." Tlie Kappa Psis and the Delta 
Chi holds reunions. "Honor, is it really you?" "If you want me, 
I am here." 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



The Thread o£ Destiny 

By LINDSEY BARBEE. 

Price, 25 Cents 

Comedy-drama of the Civil War in 3 acts; 9 males, 16 females. 
Time, 2% hours. Scenes: 1 interior, 2 exteriors. Characters: 
Peyton Bailey, of the U. S. army. Beverly Montgom-ery, a con- 
federate scout. Colonel Montgomery, a gentleman of the old school. 
Tom Randolph, a Southern gallant. John Morton, of the North. 
Ralph, wlio did not go to war. George and Uncle Billy, slaves. 
A Union Scout. Virginia, the toast of the country. Bettj', the 
"Little Colonel." Editli, a nortliern cousin. Louise, a spy. Eight 
charming soutlaern girls. Mrs. Montgomery. Miss Melissy, of in- 
quisitive nature. Fanny and Mammy, slaves. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — Betty breaks a looking glass. Edith calms her fears 
and tells her "the signs of tlie times." "Virginia has seceded." 
Beverly enlists. "A Virginia woman does not even recognize an 
acquaintance among the enemies of Virginia." 

Act II. — "I don' wan' no tarnished silber linin' to my cloud.'' 
"There are some things more precious than money, than jewels." 
"Death cannot conquer love — nor eternity." "Some day there will 
be no North, no South, but the Union." The Union scout falls a 
prey to Edith's fascinations and her cleverness wins the coveted 
dispatch. Virginia opens the door — to Peyton. Beverly is dis- 
covered. Friendship proves stronger than duty. 

Act III. — Three years work a great change. Peyton pleads in 
vain. George and Fanny "take de road to de Ian' of happiness." 
"In our little circle the stars and bars are floating high." Virginia 
gives Peyton another rose and together they trace against the 
background of blue and gray "the golden thread of destiny." 



Shadows 



By MARY MONCURE PARKER. 

Price, 15 Cents 

Play of the South today and a dream of the past in 1 act; 
an interior scene; 3 males, 4 females. Time, 35 minutes. Charac- 
ters: Prologue and the Awakening: Robert Ashton, Virginia's 
sweetheart. Aunt Geranium, an old colored mammy. Virginia Lee, 
a southern maid. The Dream: Gordon Sanford, a soldier in love 
witli Alice. Harold Hale, the successful rival. Mrs. Horace 
Fairfax, a stern mother of long ago. Alice Fairfax, her dutiful 
daughter. STORY OF THE PLAY. 

Virginia Lee's mother insists upon her marriage with a rich 
suitor, who has agreed to restore their impoverished estate. Vir- 
ginia has a sweetheart of her childhood days and hesitates in 
making a choice, but finally decides upon wealth instead of love. 
An old colored mammy, who has spent her life in the Lee house- 
hold, understands the situation and tells Virginia of a similar 
episode in the life of Virginia's grandmother. Virginia in ponder- 
ing over the incident and grieving over lier own troubles, falls 
asleep. She dreams of the story just told and the dream folks 
appear and play their parts. Virginia awakens, the shadows flee 
and she comes to her senses and her lover. 

The old colored mammy says: "Dis heah ole worl's jes' full 
of shadders. Fokes comes an' dey goes, ripens and drops like tlie 
fruit on de tree. Ole Mars is gone, old Mistis gone. De substance 
melts and fades away. Ain't nothing left but shadders." 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



By Way of the Secret Passage 

By LINDSEY BARBEE. 

Price 25 Cents 

Comedy-drama in 3 acts; 1 male, 11 females. The character 
of John Harvey can easily be assumed by a girl if it is not de- 
sirable to have a man in the cast. Time, 1% hours. Scene: 1 
interior. Characters: Mrs. Sherman, the hostess. Betty Drew, 
her niece. Ruth, Alice and Rita, guests. . Hannah, a maid. 
Madame Drew, of revolutionary days. ~ Annette, Caroline and 
Elizabeth, her daughters. Wenonah, an Indian maid. John Har- 
vey, of the Patriot army. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — Betty's engagement dance on Christmas night. The por- 
trait of Mrs. Elizabeth Drew. Betty's great-great-grandmother. 
The story of Mistress Elizabeth's romantic career. Ghosts of the 
happy pair haunt the room each Christmas night. Rita falls 
asleep in a chair and dreams a dream. 

Act II. — Scene I — The dream of long ago. John Harvey gains 
an interview with his lady love. The secret mission is made 
known to Mistress Elizabeth and the marked chart is put into 
her hands. Shots, pursuit and the secret passage. Scene M — 
Where is Elizabeth? The mysterious tapping. Elizabeth makes 
a dramatic entrance and brings astounding news. 

Act III.— Rita awakes. Betty's puzzling absence is discussed. 
Another mysterious tapping. "He's waiting for me — at the end 
of the secret passage, the same as in the long, long ago!" 

Abbu San of Old Japan 

By WALTER BEN HARE. 

Price 25 Cents 

Comedy-drama in 2 acts; 15 females. Time, about 2 hours. 
Scene: A simple interior. Characters: Abbu San, daughter of 
his majesty. Duchess Fuji-no. Lady Yu-giri, Mist of the Even- 
ing. O Matsuka San and O Kiku San, maids of honor. Ohano, 
wife of the bandit chief. Natsu-no, hostess of the inn "Million 
Welcomes." Okuku, sister of the Ox, a porter at the inn. Urni, 
Sada and Yasa, peasant maids. Henrietta Dash, an American 
newswriter. Aunt Paradise, a black mammy. Madam Masago, 
manager of the players. Ono, her maid of all work. 

An absolute novelty' in play construction, bristling with inci- 
dents and sparkling with comedy. The play is presented after 
the fashion of "The Yellow Jacket," the stage hands changing 
scenery in full view of the audience and the manager explaining 
the action and introducing the different characters from her seat 
at the side. The star part is particularly suited to the tempera- 
ment of a pretty little ingenue, the characters of Fuji-no and 
Mist of the Evening call for heavy and effective dramatic work 
and old Aunt Paradise who longs for "ole Virginny" is a comedy 
creation of especial note. Dances and song numbers from Mi- 
kado are called for by the text but these may be given or not at 
the pleasure of the manager. A picturesque and very effective 
dramatic entertainment with a distinct plot that will interest and 
amuse any audience. Suitable for schools, colleges, clubs or 
churches. 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Price 15 Cents Each, Postpaid, Unless Different Price Is Given 



M. F. 

Documentary Evidence, 25 min. 1 1 

Dude in a Cyclone, 20 min.... 4 2 

Family Strike, 20 min....... 3 3 

First-Class Hotel, 20 min,... 4 

For Love and Honor, 20 m.in.. 2 1 

Fudge and a Burglar, 15 min.. 5 
Fun in a Photograph Gallery, 

30 min 6 10 

Great Doughnut Corporation, 

30 min 3 5 

Great Medical Dispensary, 30 m. 6 
Great Pumpkin Case, 30 min,. 12 

Hans Von Smash, 30 min.... 4 3 

Happy Pair, 25 min 1 1 

I'm Not Mesilf at All, 25 min. 3 2 
Initiating a Granger, 25 min.. 8 

Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min... 3 3 

Is the Editor In? 20 min.,, 4 2 

Kansas . Immigrants, 20 min.,, 5 1 

Men Not Wanted, 30 min 8 

Mike Donovan's Courtship, 15 m. 1 3 

Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 

Mrs. Carver's Fancy Ball, 40 m. 4 3 
Mrs, Etubbins' Book Agen<-. ^ 

min 3 2 

My Lord in Livery, 1 hr..,. 4 3 

My Neighbor's Wife, 45 min.. ? 3 

My Turn Next, 45 min < 3 

My Wife's Relations, 1 hr. ... 4 6 

Not a Man in the House, 40 m. 5 

Obstinate Family, 40 min 3 3 

Only Cold Tea. 20 min 3 3 

Outwitting the Colonel, 25 min. 3 2 

Pair of Lunatics, 20 min 1 1 

Patsy O'Wang, 35 min 4 3 

Pat, the Apothecary, 35 min., 6 2 

Persecuted Dutchman, 30 min. 6 3 

Regular Fix, 35 min- 6 4 

Rough Diamond, 40 min 4 3 

Second Childhood, 15 min.,., 2 2 

Smith, the Aviator, 40 min.,. 2 3 

Taking Father's Place, 30 min. 5 3 

Taming a Tiger, 30 min 3 

That Rascal Pat, 30 min 3 2 

Those Red Envelopes, 25 min. 4 4 
Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 

min 3 6 

Treasure from Egypt, 45 min. 4 1 

Turn Him Out, 35 min 3 2 

Two Aunts and a Photo, 20 m. 4 

Two Bonnycastles, 45 min.,., 3 3 
Two Gentlemen in a Fix, 15 m. 2 

Two Ghosts in White, 20 min, , 8 

Two of a Kind, 40 min 2 3 

Uncle Dick's Mistake, 20 min,. 3 2 

WantecJ a Correspondent, 45 m. 4 4 

Wanlsci a Hero, 20 min 1 1 

Which Will He Marry? 20 min, 2 8 

Who Is Who? 40 min , , 3 2 

Wide Enough for Two, 45 min. 5 2 

Wrong Baby, 25 min 8 

Yankee Peddler, 1 hr 7 3 



VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES, MON- 
OLOGUES, ETHIOPIAN PLAYS. 

M.^ F. 

Ax'in' Her Father, 25 min,... 2 3 
Booster Club of Blackville, 25 m.lO 
Breakfast Food for Two, 20 m. 1 I 

Cold Finish, 15 min 2 1 

Coon Creek Courtship, 15 min. 1 1 
Coming Champion, 20 min..., 2 
Coontown Thirteen Club, 25 m.l4 

Counterfeit Bills, 20 min 1 1 

Doings of a Dude, 20 min,,.. 2 1 

Dutch Cocktail, 20 min 2 

Five Minutes from Yell Col- 
lege, 15 min 2 

For Reform, 20 min 4 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min . . 2 1 
Glickman, the Glazier, 25 min. 1 1 
Handy Andy (Negro), 12 min. 2 

Her Hero, 20 min 1 1 

Hey, Rube! 15 min 1 

Home Run, 15 min 1 1 

Hot Air, 25 min 2 1 

Jumbo Jum, 30 min 4 3 

Little Red School House, 20 m. 4 

Love and Lather, 35 min 3 2 

Marriage and After, 10 min,. 1 
Mischievous Nigger, 25 min.. 4 2 

Mistaken Miss, 20 min 1 1 

Mr. and Mrs. Fido, 20 min 1 1 

Mr. Badger's Uppers, 40 min.. 4 2 
One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. 2 
Oshkosh Next Week, 20 min., 4 

Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

Pete Yansen's Gurl's Moder, 10 

min 1 

Pickles for Two, 15 min..... 2 
Pooh Bah of Peacetown, 35 min. 2 2 
Prof. Black's Funnygraph, 15 m. 6 

Recruiting Office, 1 5 min 2 

Sham Doctor, 10 min 4 2 

Si and I, 15 min 1 

Special Sale, 15 min 2 

Stage Struck Darky, 10 min., 2 1 
Sunny Son of Italy, 15 min.. 1 

Time Table, 20 min 1 1 

Tramp and the Actress, 20 min. 1 1 
Troubled by Ghosts, 10 min . . . 4 
Troubles of Rozinski, 15 min.. 1 
Two Jay Detectives, 45 min.. 3 
Umbrella Mender, 15 min.... 2 
Uncle Bill at the Vaudeville. 

15 min 1 

Uncle Jeff, 25 min 5 2 

Who Gits de Reward? 30 min. 5 1 

A great number of 

Standard and Amateur Plays 

not found here are listed In 

Denlson's Catalogue 



T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers, 1 54 W. Randolph St. , Chicago 



POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 

Price, Illustrated Paper Covers, 2S cents each 




IN this Series 
are f o u ri d 
books touching 
every feature 
in the enter- 
tainment field. 
Finely made, 
good paper, 
clear print and 
each book has 
an attractive 
individual cov- 
er design. 

DIALOGUES 

All Sorts of Dialogues. 

Selected, fine for older pupils. 
Catchy Comic Dialogues. 

Very clever; for young people. 
Children's Comic Dialogues. 

From six to eleven years oi age. 
Dialogues for District Schools. 

For country schools. 
Dialogues from Dickens. 

Thirteen selections. 
The Friday Afternoon Dialogues. 

Over 50,000 copies sold. 
From Tots to Teens. 

Dialogues and recitations. 
Humorous Homespun Dialogues. 

For older ones. 
Little People's Plays. 

From 7 to 13 years of age. 
Lively Dialogues. 

For all ages; mostly humorous. 
Merry Little Dialogues. 

Thirty-eight original selections. 
When the Lessons are Over. 

Dialogues, drills, plays. 
Wide Awake Dialogues.* 

Brand new, original, successful. 

SPEAKERS, MONOLOGUES 

Choice Pieces for Little People, 

A child's speaker. 
The Comic Entertainer. 

Recitations, monologues, dialogues. 
Dialect Readings. 

Irish, Dutch* Negro, Scotch, etc. 
The Favorite Speaker. 

Choice prose and poetry. 
The Friday Afternoon Speaker. 

For p.^pils of all ages. 
Humorous Monologues. 

Particularly for ladies. 
Monologues for Young Folks. 

Clever, humorous, origijial. 
Monologues Grave and Gay.. 

Dramatic and humorous. 
The Patriotic Speaker. 

Master thoughts of master mhids. 



The Poetical Entertainer. 

For reading or speaking. 
Pomes ov the Peepul. 

VVit, humor, satire, funny poems. 
Scrap- Book Recitations. 

Choice collections, pathetic, hu- 
morous, descriptive, prose, 
poetry. 14 Nos., per No. 25c. 

DRILLS 

The Best Drill Book. 

Very popular drills and marches. 
The Favorite Book of Drills. 

Drills that ''sparkle with originality. 
Little Plays With Drills. 

For children -from 6 to 11 years. 
The Surprise Drill Book. 

Fresh, novel, drills and marches. 

SPECIALTIES 

The Boys' Entertainer. 

Monologues, dialogues, drills. 
Children's Party Book. 

Invitations, decorations, games. 
The Days We Celebrate. 

Entertainments for all the holidays. 
6ood Things for Christmas. 

Recitations, dialogues, drills. 
Good Things for Thanksgiving. 

A gem of a book. 
Good Things for Washington 

and Lincoln birthdays. 
Little Folks' Budget. 

Easy pieces to speak, songs. 
One Hundred Entertainments. 

New parlor diversions, socials. 
Patriotic Celebration?; 

Great variety of material. 
Pranks and Pastimes. 

Parlor games for children. 
Private Theatricals. 

How to put on plays. 
Shadow Pictures;, Pantomimes, 

Charades, and how to prepare. . 
Tableaux and Scenic Readings. 

New and novel; for all ages. 
Twinkling Fmgers and Sway- 
ing Figures. For little tots. 
Yuletide Entertainments. 

A choice Christmas collection. 

MINSTRELS, JOKES 

Black American Joker. 

Minstrels' and end men's gags. 
A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedy. 

Monologues, stump speeches, etc. 
Laughland,via the Ha-Ha Route. 

A merry trip for fun tourists. 
Negro Minstrels. 

All about the business. 
The New Jolly Jester. 

Funny stories, jokes, gags, etc. 



Large llius LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



T.S.DENISON & COMPANY, Pub1ishers,154 




017 400 585 



